Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-04-23

-ho seemed to be- on tho point of losing ~
senses from conflicting emotions IL
xble! love my wife"
SThan n. sacrifice viii be all tho mon
creditable to you" .,
.Stiu. it is your duty"
sThat,s the question"
9Tbs Question. Icould settle 1t soon eno4k
in nv favor BY arbitrary measures ouI
nrafer to come to an amicable understahoins
Sh.u wa Law the matter before the eran>
vizirT'
II have no objections" 49,.
sand Won promise to abide by bis decislon'
u promise" replied the poor doctor In 'one:
almost inaudible through physical anu menu
nrostration- the result Of the shah'st terrifying
proposition.
Tn a few moments he entered the apart
ment with the majestic bearing OF a pTin, .
minister. After having Frustrated nlmsen
before his sovereign he gave the physician az
em;,;,,ous look that boded no good to Inc
latter, and waited.
In a few words the shah explained dne
s;t,,st;on- The grand vizir, tickled to death
over his enemy's ~quandary, at once e1presseo
his opinion: ia.
aYou don't mean to say, your highess' thai
tie doctor hesitates"
aHe hesitates,r repeated the shah.
aAnd can it be possibles" thundered the
grand vizier, apparently carried away ~
| the violence of IN indignation he couid NOT
restrain, "when the happiness OF our prince u
| at stake, when his very life is IN dangers
| Under such circumstances sacrifice becomes
| a duty that should be welcomed WITH JOY
that should be entered upon with delignt'
| Oh. fe! doctor. To resist IS TO commit .
| crime. Our watchword should be, no sacr1-
fee too great for our sovereign; no sacrlnce
too great for the heir to the throne: no.
"You see," said the shah to the physician,
interrupting this flow of %eloquence, there Is
no other course left open to you"
The physician, utterly detected, tried to
stammer out further objections.
mo, MOI" cried his Persian majesty with
great vehemence, @you have promised to
abide by my grand vizir's decision. My son
will therefore marry your wife, whom you
will proceed to get divorced without delay"
The physician, g~lancing timidly at the
grand vizir, gave him a sly look, and said:
as this, indeed, your opinion, and would
you do so were you in my placer
sWithout an ~instant's delay" shouted the
grand vizir, with an enthusiasm that e
straight to the shah's heart
These words seemed to make a different
man of the physician. His little eyes shone
with extraordinary b%rilliancy and his thin
lips curled with a triumphant smile. Urn
ing suddenly towards his sovereign and
throwing himself on his knees be said:
"Pardon me, great shah; l have deceived
you"
The shah started, and the grand vtzir
frowned.
Deceived me!' cried the shah.
ayes, your highness; it is true that my
wife is handsome enough to turn a princes
head, but she did not, in this instance, have
that honor"
@Who did, then"
aWho did, then, your highness!" replied
the physician, directing a cunning look at his
friend, the grand vizir, who was growing
visibly pale. II will tell you. 1t was a
young girl Of surprising loveliness, a maiden
whom nature has poured her choicest
gifts, and who has succeeded in capturing
the heart of the most powerful person in the |
kingdom, after you ~highness."
The shah looked at the grand vizir. The
AdCOCA was ~ AoiiSSa paw Ao "oS 6lCSH. |
an short" continued the worthy physician, !
in distinct tones, and turning toward the
prime minister. 1T is this gentleman's wife"
Who Was surprised? The shah. Who was
The grand vizir. And who
jubilants The physician.
IF this is true" said his majesty to his
minister, then it is you who must be
divorced"
u\~.-..t - kl1 49,.
"Whatr exclaimed the doctor, you hest
"Yes I hesitate"
And can it be possible" Numbered the
physician, suddenly assuming the tone and
Of the grand vizir, "when the happi-
Of your prince is at stake, when bis very
ife is in danger? Under such. circumstances,
;~acrifices becomes a duty that should be wei
with joy. that should be entered upon
With delight. Oh, fie. sir! To resist is to
commit a crime. Our watchword should be,
10 sacrifice too great for our sovereign; no
%acritice too great for the heir to the throne"
The grand vizir was a sight to behold at
hat moment. Never did countenance ex.
,ress defeat and abasement more pitiful and
more complete. At this point his Persian
could not keep from bursting out
aughing.
As to the doctor he rubbed his hands as
hough be was going to rub off the epidermis
lie then fired this parting shot:
'You asserted just now that what I did
lot wish to do you would do in an instant
we're you in my place. 1t was the grandeur
f abnesation, because a public man in
Persia cannot eat his own words in so sudden
nd unceremonious a fashion,"
The grand vizir hauled down his colors.
Annihilating the physician with a light
ing like glance he turned toward the shah
nd said slowly:
Master, it shall be as you wish"
And, in point of fast, the young prince
larried the pretty Persian girl and recov-
red his health.-J. Henry Hager in Co.'S
lopolitan. .